China vital partner for NZ’s future

This is a warning shot across the bows of the New Zealand economy and must be taken seriously. China is not a country to fall out with. New Zealand has enjoyed a relationship with China many of our international trading partners envy.

Individuals like Rewi Alley, Victor Wilcox, Warren Freer and Norman Kirk’s support of China paid dividends that helped the Clark Government sign the world’s first free-trade agreement with China. The benefits of this helped New Zealand manage the effects of the GFC which still impact on the world’s economy. Many of our mates are still recovering from Brexit, Trumpism and the rising nationalism in many countries that are legacies of the GFC.

The Chinese find the Five Eyes agreement offensive. The Cold War ended in 1989. David Mahon and Philip Burdon’s comments are realistic and advocate a pathway New Zealand should travel if we wish for economic security and progress in the 21st century for our way of life.

Gerry Hill, Ponsonby.

Security risks

Surely New Zealanders should be more concerned about real-world security issues. Issues such as any Facebook, Google, Amazon products or devices harvesting our personal data in the background, than the likes of Huawei equipment in our telecoms networks. We know the US companies do this with no regard for our privacy and our spook agencies appear to be unconcerned.

This is a real concern for our future knowing every Gmail, web connection and online purchase is being monitored for data that better allows these mega companies to exploit us.

When we use Chinese social media, like WeChat, we know they are listening but at least they are honest about monitoring all of its traffic.

James Archibald, Birkenhead.

Burdon on China

Both the Prime Minister and Winston Peters are struggling to come to terms with China’s changing attitude to New Zealand. Before more damage is done both need to learn and upskill in the highly sensitive area of international relations and trade. Philip Burdon’s brilliant article in yesterday’s Herald on trading with China would be a good start. Mr Burdon is a rarity among politicians in that he is also a highly successful businessman and understands the international marketplace. Mr Peters’ recent reference to a former PM as “Mr spray and walk away” has a certain irony given China’s not so subtle rebuffs.

Bruce Eliott, St Heliers.

Time for Collins

Simon Bridges and his PR entourage made the fatal mistake of ditching his Cosa Nostra pinstripes and refitting him as Daddy Day Care presumably to compete in Jacinda Ardern’s impervious image space. It was the equivalent of an Oxford Union debate with David Lange, you’re never going to win. I preferred the shimmering Bridges of old when he was Minister of Tarmac, you knew exactly what you were getting, no compromise.

Sadly it’s time for him to put the drum kit away and for National to find someone who is a stark counterpoint to Ms Ardern. The obvious candidate is Judith Collins. With Brand Collins you know it comes with scything wit, combative spirit, innate political nous, unwavering blue values built on self-help and the invisible hand, not to mention the rare ability to dismantle someone’s carefully constructed argument with just the hint of a sideways glance. We deserve some real parliamentary competition so let’s get on with it. Hadley Brown, Blockhouse Bay.

Not so kind

Our Prime Minister states that one of her strong points is being kind. She even said she wanted all New Zealanders to be kind to others. On Tuesday in the House she didn’t show too much kindness when she burst out laughing and ridiculed the Leader of the Opposition for his pronunciation of the word China. Perhaps this kindness thing is fake news.

Jeanne Bell, Epsom.

State of Northland

Shane Jones should use some of the regional slush/bribe fund to pay his “nephews to get off the couch” (his words) to attack the weed problem in Northland. There are swathes of flowering ginger alongside the road and pampas and tobacco plant growing thickly as well. Dome Valley is in a shocking state. Since the jobseeker benefit figures indicate an increase, the regional fund would be perfect to attack this problem. If as a nation we aspire to become predator free we also must have a healthy environment for our native birds to feed from. Here’s hoping Shane Jones will use his largess to do some good.

Judith Browne, Cambridge.

Tattooed pupil

Brent Marshall’s comment on Seven Sharp’s attempt to go for headlines rather than balance or accuracy reminded me of a recently-read quote on newspapers. George Bernard Shaw considered them to be, “A device unable to distinguish between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilisation”. I am sure if the esteemed GBS was living in today’s world of television and superficial social media he would frequently repeat his quote.

Aileen Hart, Havelock North.

Aged-care pay

I agree with the need, expressed by Simon Wallace in the Herald on Monday, for aged-care homes to be allowed to hire overseas staff. Many do an excellent job with empathy for residents. However, it seems the major aged care chains could already pay a living wage to all of their workers. They do not pay tax and the performance of their shares suggests they are serving the desires of their shareholders. Why are they not paying a living wage to their staff now? If a bank can, they can.

Clean campers

Kay Irwin, Parnell.

I have had the good fortune to stay for two weeks at Cooks Beach where there is a freedom campers’ site near the Purangi River. Every day for two weeks I wandered down past this camp and checked it out after the campers had left. Every day for two weeks the place was spotless. Well done freedom campers. Michael Walker, Blockhouse Bay.

Tradie charges

I was reading in the Herald last week that someone did a survey on tradies’ wages and claimed the boys were on an average of $25 an hour and the girls a dollar or two less. Someone needs to take a serious look at what these tradesmen are truly earning. Four years ago I asked one of the big home builders how much to build one of their four-bedroom houses. They said $600,000 just for the house.

I got the plan of their house and made every room a bit bigger, then gave the plan to an architect who did the plans for me to submit to the council. My son and I then built the house getting different contractors to do the jobs we couldn’t do.

The cheapest quote for tiling two living rooms, the kitchen and two bathrooms was $14,000. I asked him how many square metres of tiles he could put down in an hour and worked it out and he was getting $300 an hour for him and a young boy helping him.

The painters wanted $8000 to paint the inside of the house. That worked out at $100 an hour so we painted the inside ourselves.

By the time we finished the house it cost us $300,000 so how can these big firms justify charging us poor people $600,000? Maybe it is the very expensive prices tradies charge.

William Telford, Hamilton.

Lazy parkers

Today outside Greenhithe Primary School I saw why we have an obesity epidemic, global warming and anti-social behaviour. Instead of driving 100m up the road, parking and walking to the school, dozens of people just sat queuing in their car with their engine running, for up to 15 minutes, in one case completely blocking the road to any through traffic. How do we educate people about future problems when they have this “me first” attitude?

Fiona Downes, Hobsonville.

Gender fluid

Methinks John Roughan needs to be a bit more gender fluid in his pronouncements. The learned gentleman states male sexuality does not let a man comfortably masquerade as a woman. Really? I had a splendid afternoon anciently dancing at a jazz afternoon in a park here in Whakata¯ ne. My dancing partner was very much a man, very into women, but he was in a dress, wig, stockings and heels. The game was given away, it wasn’t a very good wig, got a makeover at the local hairdresser, now all good to go.

Justine Mary Adams, Ohope Beach.